Collapsible dispenser with dispensing cap

ABSTRACT

A package for flowable products is provided, the package comprising generally tube shaped dispenser of flexible plastic material and formed with a dispensing cap secured to the end of the package. The dispensing cap is secured to the exterior of the package adjacent an end closure which may be severed from the package to provide a discharge opening. The dispensing cap has an opening therein but holds the package wall against an uncontrolled expansion or a tear propagation when the package is squeezed to dispense the package contents through the opening formed in the dispensing cap. The stream of dispensed material may be discharged at different rates and, if desired, formed to be fanciful in shape.

mite States atent [is] 3,666,145 Fisher 5] May 30, 1972 [541 COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSER WITH FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS DISPENSING CAP Guy Norwood Fisher, Wilmette, I11.

Assignee: Kraftco Corporation, New York, NY.

Filed: Nov. 17, 1969 Appl. No.: 877,062

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Attorney-Fitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka 57 ABSTRACT A package for flowable products is provided, the package comprising generally tube shaped dispenser of flexible plastic material and formed with a dispensing cap secured to the end of the package. The dispensing cap is secured to the exterior of the package adjacent an end closure which may be severed from the package to provide a discharge opening. The dispensing cap has an opening therein but holds the package wall against an uncontrolled expansion or a tear propagation when the package is squeezed to dispense the package contents through the opening formed in the dispensing cap. The stream of dispensed material may be discharged at different rates and, if desired, formed to be fanciful in shape.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSER WITH DISPENSING CAP This invention relates to package dispensers for flowable products which are dispensed in a stream from a nozzle upon squeezing a collapsible wall of the dispenser package.

A number of flowable products are being packaged and sold in aerosol containers which use a gas propellant to force the contents of the dispenser through a nozzle in a stream. The aerosol container itself is quite expensive as compared to typical non-dispensing containers or packages; and, moreover, the cost of filling and packaging the flowable product in the container is very expensive compared to conventional filling and packaging techniques for non-dispensing containers or packages. The present invention is concerned with providing a low-cost alternative to aerosol dispensers and is directed to a new form of dispenser which utilizes those conventional and low-cost techniques for filling a package and converts the package into a dispenser.

The present invention is particularly directed to but is not limited to a so-called chub package. Such package is made from flexible plastic material and is generally tubular in shape. A longitudinally extending seal is provided along a side of the package and clenched metal bands gather and secure the package wall at opposite ends of the package. Such packages are made at high speed by forming a web of flexible packaging material into a tube and heat sealing the longitudinal seal while a flowable product such as, for example, a food product like processed cheese, is being introduced into the tubular package. The tube is closed with metal bands at spaced points to close off the package. The resulting packages are generally link or sausage like in appearance and can be produced and filled at a relatively low cost as compared to filling an aerosol container dispenser and with a minimum exposure of the product to the atmosphere. However, such package does not permit easy dispensing of flowable material.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved package of the foregoing kind which can be utilized as a dispenser.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the novel features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of one end of the dispenser of FIG. 1 dispensing a flowable product carried therein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dispensing cap for attachment to the dispenser ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 showing a cross section of the stream.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration the invention is embodied in a dispenser 11 which comprises a package 13 and a dispensing cap 15 secured to the exterior of the package at one end thereof to dispense a product 17 from the package after an opening is formed in the package wall, preferably by removing or severing a closure 19 from one end of the package. More specifically, the dispensing cap is in the form of a sheet 20 fitted on and secured to the end of package to hold the end wall 21 of the package from an uncontrolled radially outward propagation. The secured sheet 20 holds the gathered pleats or folds 22 of the package 13 particularly when the package is squeezed to force the product through an opening 23. The opening 23 may be formed by severing one of the gathered narrowed ends 25 of the package by removing a clenching metal band 26 which holds the package end sealed. The dispensing cap 20 includes a nozzle 27 with a preformed opening or orifice 29 for forming a stream 31 of product. The orifice 29 is configured to provide a fanciful, decorative shape to the product as it issues from the package and through the orifice 29.

As will be explained in greater detail, the chub package is formed by folding a web of flexible plastic packaging material, such as a multi-ply web of saran and polyethylene, into a tubular shape with a seal 34 being formed as the tubular shaped package is being filled by conventional filling techniques. The web of packaging material is gathered at spaced points and the clenching bands 26 are applied prior to applying the dispensing cap 20 on an end of the package 13. Such a package is readily collapsed upon squeezing and the gathered pleats 22 at the end of the package would expand outward from the generally hemispherical shape at the package end but for the cap 20 which is attached to and constrains the pleats 22 against expansion while holding the package wall against tear propagations.

Referring now in greater detail to the dispenser 11, the preferred dispensing cap 20 is made from sheet material such as is used in labeling and is of substantially round configuration. It becomes somewhat hemispherical in shape when applied to the end of the package 21. A bonding agent such as an adhesive 33, secures the dispensing cap to the package. The adhesive is desirably pressure sensitive and must adhere to the flexible plastic material.

The dispensing cap 20 is fitted on the end of the package after the package is formed with the result that the adhesive 33 is disposed only on the exterior of the package and is spaced from contact with the food product 17 within the package. In fitting the dispensing cap 20 onto the package, an end closure 19 is aligned with the nozzle 27 and projected through the nozzle. In the disclosed embodiment, the nozzle is provided with pointed leaves 35 between preformed, intersecting orifice slits which flex outwardly and bend. The shape of the nozzle 27 changes shape of the product as it issues from the package. The dispensing cap is fitted over the clenching band 26 so that the latter is visible and the package material can be severed behind the band for dispensing.

The dispensing cap 20 may be adhesively secured to other parts of the package and does not necessarily fit over the end and clenching band 26. When secured to the package at other positions, the package will be punctured through the orifice 29 and flexible packaging material.

While the dispensing cap 20 is preferably bonded to the exterior wall of the package by the manufacturer or packager, it will be appreciated that the dispensing cap may be sold or provided in an unattached form for later attachment to the package by the ultimate user. It will be recognized that the dispenser 11 may be used to dispense granular materials or liquids which are less viscous than products, such as processed cheese, which need to be forced under pressure through the nozzle.

To achieve better control of the flow, particularly of relatively viscous materials, it is preferred that the dispensing cap 20 be formed of a material which is stiffer, i.e., more rigid, than the material of the package wall. For example, the dispensing cap may be formed inexpensively by a molding process using a plastic. The dispensing caps may also be formed of other materials such as sheets of metal, plastic, paper or a laminate of these sheets. Also, the dispensing cap may be formed of several parts with the nozzle portion of the cap being more or less rigid than the remainder of the cap adhering to and constraining the package walls. Various bonding agents may be coated on the interior face of the cap for bonding the cap to the package but the indicated pressure sensitive adhesive is preferred.

The illustrated chub package 12 is made by forming a web into the shape of a tube with edges of the web overlapped and bonded together to constitute the longitudinally extending seal 34. The seal 34 is preferably formed by conventional heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or electronic sealing techniques. The closures are fontled at each end of the package by gathering the tube wall together and encircling the gathered end with the clenching metal bands 26. The band 26 is clenched with sufficient pressure to provide suitable seals for the contents, which in the disclosed embodiment is processed cheese. Thus, a single piece, multi-ply web may be quickly formed into a low cost package and filled with cheese with only a slight exposure to atmosphere. Equipment for forming the chub package is commercially available. The dispensing cap 20 may be attached without any exposure of the food product to glues or adhesives or multiple filling and packaging operations.

When it is desired to dispense the contents of the illustrated package, the clenching band 26 adjacent the dispensing cap orifice may be removed by clipping ofi the clenching band thereby severing the package wall at the gathered end wall 25. The user aims the nozzle 27 at a cracker or the like and squeezed the package wall. Under pressure, the cheese flows through the opening in the package wall and through the orifice 29 while spreading the leaves 35 of the dispensing cap 20. The wall opening through which the cheese exits is limited by the dispensing cap to substantially the size of the now enlarged orifice in the dispensing cap. With continued pressure, the cheese flows through the orifice 29 to form the generally star-shaped, cross-sectional stream 31 as best seen in FIGS 2 and 4. The user may apply the cheese to the cracker in a decorative manner. As soon as the pressure on the package is released, the cheese stops flowing. The partially collapsed package has no tendency to return to its original shape so that no air is drawn into the package with release of the squeezing pressure. If air were drawn into the package with release of the squeezing pressure, the air could cause premature spoilage of the remaining food. Because the cheese is usually extruded in relatively thin streams, very small portions of cheese can be dispensed in a decorative manner.

If the entire contents of the package are not used, the nozzle orifice 29 may be covered, as for example, by a small cap or piece of tape (not shown), or alternatively, left uncovered. Because only a small area of the cheese is exposed at the orifree 29, the cheese within the package will not readily dry and may be used at a subsequent date.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel dispenser which upon squeezing of a collapsible wall permits its contents to be dispensed through a dispensing cap. The preferred form of dispensing cap includes a dispensing cap which can be readily attached to the end of a package and after the package is already formed and filled. The dispenser of this invention provides an inexpensive, conventional alternative to other kinds of dispensers such as aerosol cans.

While the dispenser has been described in connection with the dispensing of food products, the invention is not limited to the dispensing of food products as the dispenser is usable to dispense a wide range of non-food products of varying viscosities. Also, the invention is not limited to a dispenser having a chub package as the package may take various sizes and shapes and have ends sealed by means other than clenching bands.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure but, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible dispenser for flowable products comprising a collapsible body wall in the form of an elongated tube having a gathered pleated wall at one end of said tube, said body wall comprising a web formed into the tube with longitudinally extending edges of the web overlapped and bonded to constitute a longitudinally extending seam for said tube, a substantially hemispherical cap of non-self-supporting material having a smooth uninterrupted wall adhesively secured throughout its extent to said gathered pleated wall at said one end of said tube and covering one end of the tube and a portion of said longitudinally extending seam to reinforce the seam against splitting, a clenched sealed end for said body wall projecting from said gathered pleated wall and extending to a free end therefor, a nozzle means on said cap having pointed leaves separated by preformed slits in said uninterrupted wall and defining a spreadable orifice to dispense a non-circular crosssection stream of flowable product, a clenching band clenching said gathered tube end and spaced outwardly of said pointed leaves of said orifice and toward said free tube end, a

portion of said clenched and sealed tube end exposed between said band and said pointed leaves of said nozzle means and available for severing or clipping the clenching band from the dispenser without cutting said leaves whereby the flowable product may be disposed through said nozzle orifice with expansion of said pointed leaves, said hemispherical cap holding said gathered pleated wall and the portion of said seam covered thereby against uncontrolled expansion when said body wall is squeezed to dispense the flowable product. 

1. A collapsible dispenser for flowable products comprising a collapsible body wall in the form of an elongated tube having a gathered pleated wall at one end of said tube, said body wall comprising a web formed into the tube with longitudinally extending edges of the web overlapped and bonded to constitute a longitudinally extending seam for said tube, a substantially hemispherical cap of non-self-supporting material having a smooth uninterrupted wall adhesively secured throughout its extent to said gathered pleated wall at said one end of said tube and covering one end of the tube and a portion of said longitudinally extending seam to reinforce the seam against splitting, a clenched sealed end for said body wall projecting from said gathered pleated wall and extending to a free end therefor, a nozzle means on said cap having pointed leaves separated by preformed slits in said uninterrupted wall and defining a spreadable orifice to dispense a non-circular cross-section stream of flowable product, a clenching band clenching said gathered tube end and spaced outwardly of said pointed leaves of said orifice and toward said free tube end, a portion of said clenched and sealed tube end exposed between said band and said pointed leaves of said nozzle means and available for severing or clipping the clenching band from the dispenser without cutting said leaves whereby the flowable product may be disposed through said nozzle orifice with expansion of said pointed leaves, said hemispherical cap holding said gathered pleated wall and the portion of said seam covered thereby against uncontrolled expansion when said body wall is squeezed to dispense the flowable product. 